Spray gun



Aug. 31, 1948. w. M. SPRENG SPRAY GUN 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 2, 1944 W 5 & QM RH an MM 4 mm, 9 .I. I. 2. m o MZ/ d 7/ W|| 1w N m ii E n v 3 m 2 oh 7 2 IN. I m mm. 5.. N E R m m r m an my mm 1 WV 0? ll mV 0m no 3 MT ATTORNEY-S Aug; 31, 1948. w. M. SPRENG 2,448,159

' sPRAY GUN Filed Aug. 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOIR I ,3 WARREN M. ,SPRENG.

Q v BY W+J ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 31., 1948 1 UNITED a SPRAY GUN -Warren M. Spreng, Ashland, Ohio, assignor to The F. E. Myers & Bro. Company, vOhio, acorporation of Ohio Ashland,

Y ApplicationfAugust 2, 1944, Serial No. 547,697

The present invention relates to spray guns for distributing solutions over surfaces, and more particularly for applying in'secticides to plants, bushes and trees.

In spray gunsof this of control over the shape and size of the spray are provided as well as an on and off valve and these controls are sometimes effected at two different positions on the gun andby separately operating mechanism. While this arrangement has been found to be satisfactory, guns so equipped are somewhat difiicult to operate because usually the on and ofi valve is operated by means of a trigger at the rear grip of the gun and the spray control is operated by an intermediate handle or grip placed nearer the nozzle end and often it becomes necessary to adjust each of the valve and the spray controls simultaneously as Well as to manipulate .the gun.

Again, prior designs of the spray gun have em ployed a trigger for actuating the on and ofi valve and the trigger had no intermediate position so' that either this element was at one limit of character various formsa 3 Claims. (01. 299-150) its movement or at the other end of its movement and the valve wouldbe fully .open or completely closed. In accordance with one aspect ofmy invention the spray adjusting device is controlled by the same mechanism that opens and closes the valve and the arrangement is such thatthe mechanism is provided with intermediate positions so that the spray control device can be adjusted' throughout its entire travel 'andthe movement 'of the on and off valve be given a corresponding adjustment. The forward handle of the gun is retained even though this handle does not contribute to but simply serves as a combined gun manipulating device and a support.

Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved gun in which the on and off valve and a spray control device are operated by one and the same mechanism without-sacrificing any intermediate adjustment; of the spray control element so that closeness of control of the spray can be obtained.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a spray gun in which the amount of fluid passing the shut-off valve is'regulated in accordance with the requirements of the spray as determined b the setting of the spray control element.

These objects are attained in brief by providing at the trigger end, whereinvcontrol of both the sh ut-off valve and of the spray adjusting device are effected, a structure by which the trigger may be locked in "any intermediate position, as well as at the maximum open position of the 2 f shut-ofi valve and the spray adjusting device so as to provide any intermediate adjustment of each of the shut-off valve and the spray control device. Other objects and features will be apparent in the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the complete gun.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the trigger end of the gun, while Figure 3 is an end view of the gun portion shown in Figure 2 and looking at a position broadly indicated by the arrowed line 33 in that figure.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 1, while r V Figure 5 is a similar view taken'along line 55 in the same figure.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional View of a portion of the trigger mechanism and the-locking device to show the manner in which the intermediate locking eifect is obtained.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, the improved spray gun is constituted essentially of the three main parts, namely the barrel which is generally designated by reference character I, the combined nozzle and spray control device indicated at 2 positioned at one end of the barrel and the combined trigger shut-off and spray operating mechanism 3 at the other end of the barrel; The barrel I'is made .up of as many lengths of'piping as are desired and, as indicated there is a single length formed by the tubing 4, preferably made oi aluminum or other light metal. The nozzle 2 consists of a head casting or screw cap 5 having a hexagonal head indicated at 6 and a bore 1 which tapers down to a small openin indicated at 8. There is a cap 9 which screws over a small diameter portion of the member 5 this cap serving to clamp a pair of washers I0, I I to the right hand surface of the member 5. The washer I0 is made of rubber or other suitable material and constitutes a gasket and the washer H is composed of a hard non-corrosive metal having a very small opening l2 through which fluid issues as a spray.

The barrel l is provided near its nozzleend with a combined handle and support 13 and terminates at its other end in an angularly directed tubular piece M which has a threaded opening [5 for receiving thehose from a source of. liquid. The tubing l4 constitutes a hand grip and the downwardly extending piece I3 constitutes the other hand grip. At the top of the barrel near the handle 14 there is an upstanding bracket or abutment l6 preferably cast integral with the barrel and being suitably reinforced by webs I! (Figure 3). The purpose of this abutment will be explained hereinafter.

There is an oval shaped yoke member l8 mounted diagonally across the barrel near the trigger end on a pair of pivots l9 which extend outwardly" from each side ofthe abutment I6. The yoke terminates at the lower :end .ina trigger 20 which is slotted as indicated at 2| just below the lower surface of the yoke portion-to receive a latch 22 which is pivotally mounted in the trigger as indicated at 23. This latchis provided with a portion '24 which. extends .upwardly and to the right (Figure'al):andrhasa flat edge 25 for receiving a small bar 26 of hardened steel. The latter is securedto the portion 24 of the latch by means of screwsZl andterminates at its upper end in a circular-eyelet 28 having an opening 29.

The latch-is providedwith -an opening-3i! for ":loosely receiving a 'compression spring I which rbears- -at its upper endagainst a surface 32 on the yoke member. The purpose. of the springl3i .is to cause the lower end of .thelatch to be pushed to the right out-of the trigger asv far-as ipossible. Consequently; when the latch is pressed toward the trigger the spring-is-placed under compression.

The eyelet 28 receives a rod-33 f curvilinear or-arcuate configuration and constituted of case hardened steel. The rod--33 is roughened preferably by.meansofshallow grooves extending circuinferentially around the rod and placed close together. This rod ispivoted at itsleft hand-end (Figure l) as indicated at:34- -to a smalllug 35 rastintegralwith the handle 14. :Thesizeof the rod 33 is slightly less than the-.openingin the eyelet 28' and the arrangementissuch that-when the latch is depressed. i..e.,- moved intoalignment with the trigger 20, the opening in-the eyelet is brought. intor-concentricitywiththe rod 33 .--and there is solittle contact between the-rodand the' eyelet. thatthe -latter can be-moved-freely along the rod. :Thusthe latch -towhich the eyelet -is connected and the trigger-which=carries the latch can be readily swung. about the trunnion pivots-l9. -An arcuate'slottli maybe cutin each of the side-portions of the woke-member: .I 8 for .freely receivingthe-two pivots IS'andLtherebyHtO accommodate -the swinging effect .of the, yoke.

During-the initial movementotthe trigger: a. 111- crum is. obtained between the pivots" l9 ..and."the

trunnion bearings lidwhich makes availablea considerableforce tocrack the valvelopenl because'the "distanceb'etween' the .fulcrum .points is .fairly. short. I As the trigger is moved still further, the points of leverage changeto a fulcrum obtained between the upper. end ofl'the "lever/l8 and the trunnions 40, thus causing greater movements of the valveand spray. control device. on

.account of the greater. distance between fulcrum the latch and'its. attachdtrigger in any odesiredcposition. 1 Directly surrounding thecbarrel to. the rearofthe handle. I4 'there..is.a circu1ar :hooded memberil which is provided-on oppositesides thereof with a -wingv=portion-38-hav- .ing. a slot-39. extend outwardly from the vertical 'sidesoflthe A pair of trunnion bearings 40 yoke l8 and are received by the slots 39 so that when the yoke is swung about its pivots [9 the member 31 is also caused to move to the left (Figure 1). The latter terminates in a shouldered 5 portion 4| which is provided at each side with a flattened surface indicated at 42 and having slots 43 for receiving pins 44. These pins are positioned at opposite sides' of 'a'tubu'lar :member 45 '..open at its'right hand'endbut closed at. the other end as indicated at 46 and provided with a lug 41. A screw 48 projects vertically downward through the lug to contact with a rod 49 which "extends longitudinally of the barrel. This rod iiS-th-litdfidflt its left hand end as seen in Figx urerl to receiverainut 50. There is a relatively long, rimultieshoul'dered cylindrical member 5| Whichflts .snugly within the tubular member or cap 45' arid'is provided with a counterbored opening i52 i so as to leave this member open at the right hand end but closed at the opposite end.

..The. closed. end is bored in order snuglybut-slid- .ably to. receive the rod 49. flhevci inder'fil :at

its open. end is provided with. a threadedportion "53' having a 'shoulder""54. "This ithreadedsportion engages thethreads of af .hollowlboss 55 I formediintegr'al withlthe .mairiLbarr'el. "11f. 'desired .a .gasketfiiimay be insertedeb'etween rthe shoulder 54 .arid the immediately adjacent .sur- .face. of the bossi'55. ..The'latter'.isprovidedwith 4a Ishouldered bore as indicated--at'l5'| against which abuts .a. circular plate. or wa'sherififl having an opening'for slidably supporting the rod). QA

. compression spring 360 surrounds the mat-4e L to the" left of l the. circular plateli58...and. presses against alsm'aller'washerf'fil whicliin turnserves to. compress a ,quantity iof. packingmmateri'alifl c'ontainedbetween the washer. andtheLJefthand end offthe bore 52.

There is a "sleevel'63. preferably oflhardened steel such as stainless steeLIfittedItightlyand securely within aspecially. preparedbore. 64:.within "the barrel L'this sleeve. having an..opening 65-.and

.a shouldered .extensionl66: projecting toithei left T'KFigure 1).. .A washer-.161 of rubberona composi- I tion backs .up .a thin stainless steeldisc. 61* which bears. against theJeft hand surface ofsthe :shoul- .der" 66 and constitutes .an opening rand-closing valve. 'TPo'siti oned. on lithei left harid .side of the washer liLthere is .a small-sleeve .68 which is providd witha"threaddwopenin lfor receiving-the rod? 49am .a rodl'l flflwhichi extends through the barrel 1. Another small sleevefialat the rightof jclisk'valvel'filiand also-the washer- Blnarethreaded to receive. the rod- 70. v.It-will-be notedwt-hatithe rod? lllis threadedwinto. each .of thesleeve" 65, .the .wa'sherl. El and the sleeve '68 ,ewhereasthe rod 49 isithreaded. onlyintoitheasleeve- 68. zThuss-the elements51f68nand '69..are secured together and .in turn" hold the adjacenten'ds of the-rodstmeand 0 :10 in alignment.

Tconsidering the operation Oflthe. gun npzto this point, [when ithe .slatch. 2-2 is. depressedmand --:t-he trigger-10 B :moved. to the =left--the trunnion .piv-

ots 40 which aren-in-tegr-allysecuredi-to the 'yoke 1: 8 cause the hooded. .member- 31. -to move 420113116 left. \Thelattenpresses against: the tubular-memb 45...through .thei pivotiandslot. arrangement 143,4 44=and assuming that the screW LM iSitightened against-the rod '49 and thernut 5ll.:is..-tight- ..70 .ened against the endof-the memberrli the' rod .249 iscausedto move-tothe left carrying witlrit Ithe Washer. 61. andthe valve 61f, also the rod: 10. .An-annular opening isMt-herefore provided .be-

. tween the -valve 6 1 and the. -.left hand surface of the sleeve63; .the size :oitheopening being-deteri cars,- is 9 ble-like; member 1 I the solid portion of; which is secured as ,bythreads to theright hand end of the rodlll. The Qpenendof the member' ha an outer,.diameter slidably to fit within; the

bore l-ofthe cap 5 and is provided withilongitudinally extending slots 12 which serve to give a whirling effect to the liquid which flows through the nozzle. It is apparent that as long as the spray control device H remains within the bore I the only access given to the liquid is through the slots 12 and the effective length of these slots is controlled by the distance that the member 'Il enters the bore. It is also apparent that as the member H recedes from the bore and is entirely clear thereof, a new passageway is opened up to the liquid about the outside surface of the member H. Consequently, by simply moving the thimble member H with respect to the bore 1, including a movement by which the thimble is moved entirely out of the bore, the character of the spray can be readily changed from a fine mist to a pencil stream as it passes through the opening 12. There is a lug 13 cast into the interior surface of the tubular member 4 and a compression spring 14 which loosely surrounds the rod is interposed between the lug 13 and the left hand end of the spray control device 1 I. As the rod 10 is moved to the left in accordance with the operation of the trigger 20, the shut-off valve 61' is automatically opened and the spray control device II is also moved through the same distance. It is apparent that under these conditions the spring 14 is compressed and this serves to exert a strong restoring force to assure a complete closing of th valve at 6'! and a complete entrance of the thimble II into the bore 1 at the nozzle end when the latch is depressed. Thus, the trigger 20 is caused to move to the right when relieved of hand or finger pressure assuming that the member 22 has been unlatched. When the rod 10 slides to the left on movement of the trigger, and the latter is released at the latch, the rod is caused to return to its original position by the action of the spring I4. The sprin 60 serves to maintain compression of the packing 62 around the rod 49 to prevent leakage,

It is apparent that I have provided many positions within the gun at which adjustments can be obtained and perhaps the most accessible adjustment is that accorded by the nut 50 which serves to move the valve 61' away from its seat and the spray control thimble (I out of the bore 1 without affecting the position of the trigger 20. Moreover, the relative distance between the valve element 61' and the spray control device (I can also be controlled by predetermining the distance along the rod 10 over which these two elements are threaded. In view of these many adjustments it is entirely possible and feasible that such adjustment may be obtained to permit the exact amount of spray solution to pass through the valve 61' as can be accommodated by a particular setting of the spray control device II at'any and all positions of the trigger 20, includin the intermediate positions. Thus, when it is desired to spray low positions with an insecticide solution -the' rate -of-flow of the v :be' relatively-small andthe whirling effect obtainedibythe slots 1-2 should bequite large in orspray solution need only der to give the proper degree' of mist. Under such circumstances, the trigger 20 would be moved onlya relatively short distanceto open the valve a little and to move the spray control "device 'l l only "a short distance within the bore 1, makingsu're that there is no free annular pas- 10' sageway for the liquidaround the element H.

"On'the other hand, when a tall treeis to be s ayed, which requires a stream of strong carry- "ing powerand little or no mist effect, the trigger 20w ou1d be moved to its extreme left hand position which would cause the valve 61 to open wide and the device TI to be moved entirely away from the bore 1 andthus to present a large annular opening about the device for the liquid which in turn provides a strong solid stream at the nozzle. Thus, by a single trigger 20 I am enabled to control not only the on and 01f valve but also the character of the spray and in addition obtain any intermediate spray effect by moving the trigger to a position between its extreme limits of travel. When once the valve has been set with respect to its valve seat and the spray control device II with respect to the whirling chamber, the same adjustments would apply throughout all positions of the trigger 20 and thus optimum results are obtained over the entire range of application of the gun. By pivotally mounting the arcuate rod 33 so that it can readily assume an eccentric position with respect to the opening 29 in the eyelet, a strong locking effect is secured at the intermediate positions to offset the urge of the spring 14. Inasmuch as the rod 33 and the eyelet 28 are made of hardened steel, the life of the locking device should be fully as long as the life of the gun. It might be added that even in the absence of the corrugations on the rod 33, a substantial locking effect is possible due to the eccentric position that the rod assumes about its pivoted end. The corrugated surface is provided merely to accentuate this lockin effeet.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A spray gun comprising a barrel having at one end a nozzle and at the other end a grip member and an opening and closing valve, a trigger for moving said valve and means for locking said trigger in an intermediate position, said means comprisin an eyelet element secured to the trigger and having an opening which loosely receives an arcuate shaped rod pivotally mounted on the grip member, the arrangement being such that at an intermediate position of the trigger the rod and the eyelet are caused to take eccentric positions with respect to one another and thereby to introduce a locking effect.

2. A spray gun comprising a barrel having at one end an openin and closing valve, a trigger for actuating said valve and a latch for locking the trigger, said latch being pivotally mounted on the trigger, an eyelet element secured to the latch, a rod projecting from the gun and through the eyelet, said rod taking a concentric position with respect to the eyelet when the latch is de pressed so as readily to permit movement of the trigger but when the latch remains in an un- 

